Life Hacks #1...

Did you guys survive the New Year's Eve celebrations??  Ours was pretty hot and heavy...we watched Texas A&M play, cleaned up a lot of vomit (my granddaughter threw up every time she took a breath - a lovely virus) and went to bed around 10:30.  We were rockin' it and partying hard!


In my previous post, I mentioned that I would start a series of "Life Hacks" on the blog...welcome to installment #1.  I don't know about you but when I see something that helps with something else, I usually think, "how cool is that?" and "why didn't I think of that?"  Since I love sharing information, I've decided to offer weekly life hacks on the blog...some you know, some are weird, some you've never heard of, some are dumb...but they are out there nonetheless...available for our use...or not!  Soooo, without further adieu...

To help stick to your New Year's resolution, make the goal or resolution part of your password so you're constantly reminded of it.


Now, I did try this.  Unfortunately, "you're fat, put the cheeseburger down and run a few laps" was already taken as a password.  Guess I will need to be more creative.

If you are trying to quit smoking, drink lots of water and chew fennel seeds...not a handful, just a couple...or three.



Water will help flush toxins and fennel seeds help with the cravings.

To lose one pound of fat you must run for over three hours.


Run for twenty-seven minutes a day to lose a pound a week.  Hmmm, a pound a week!  Let's clear this up right here...I. DO. NOT. RUN.  I'm not going to run 3 minutes a week much less 3 hours...3 hours!!!  I would die...on the side of the road...gasping for air!  The ONLY way I would run anywhere is if you were dangling a Twinkie in front of my face and then it would be a definite maybe!  For all you runners out there, I applaud you!

To keep bananas from ripening too quickly, wrap some plastic wrap around the top of the bananas...it slows the down the aging process.


This is another hack I tried...worked perfectly for the bananas....me, not so much!  Oh well, it was worth a try!  I will say that I did get some bizarre looks when I went to the grocery store with plastic wrap suctioned to my face.

To soften butter quickly, heat a glass of water in the microwave, remove, pour out the water and place the glass over the butter.


The butter will soften after a couple of minutes.  

Weekly Extra: What to Shop for in January


All retailers are having huge sales in January to eliminate the extra inventory they purchased for the holidays.  Here are a few things that might be smart purchases in January: bed and bath linens; carpet, rugs and flooring, televisions; holiday items; and home appliances.  

Fun Fact:  The earliest known New Year celebrations were in Mesopotamia and date back to 2,000 BC.

Enjoy!





images courtesy of pixabay.com

22 comments

  1. I quite like this password idea - I would fail my resolutions, as I always do, and they in turn would have a chance to shame me every time I log in. Happy 2019, dear Benita!!!
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. I decided long ago to stop making actual resolutions. I try to plan a list of goals for the year, that way, I always accomplish something and don't feel like a complete failure. I liked the password idea also, but I'm too lazy to go back and change them all...LOL Happy New Year Amalia! I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday! Love and hugs!

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  2. Fun first on life hacks, and it's loaded! Yuk, sorry about your granddaughter on NYE, hope you don't get it.
    Mr. P. found a great hack in Consumer Rpts on bananas - store them in the fridge - and it works beautifully! I eat a half banana every day on my cereal, and this has solved a big problem I always had with rotting bananas on the counter.

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    1. Thanks so much Rita! Yeah, it was a mess…she and my son were sick with some bug. I haven’t shown any symptoms yet, so I’m hoping taking all the Vitamin C I do is helping ward it away from me! We do the same thing with bananas…store them in the fridge. We use them daily for our protein shakes. It is a two-fer for us…keeps them from rotting quickly and keeps the fruit flies at bay during the summer! Have a great one! Love and hugs!

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  3. These are some great hacks! Another way to use hard butter, is to grate it on a box grater.

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    1. Thanks so much Penny! Oh, I like that idea...and it would look pretty also! Thanks for that...I will let the hubster know about that one also. I keep the butter in the fridge and don't let it sit on the counter more than a day, so it is always cold for his toast...LOL Love and hugs!

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  4. great hacks!
    I feel the same way you do about running. and I used to walk very fast and even run. and bike ride. but no more.
    and I'm liking the no more even better! xo

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    1. Thank you so much! LOL...I'm right there with you...I exercise several times a week but I do it grudgingly and complain to myself the entire time! I much prefer the "no more"! It's a better place to be! Love and hugs to you! Happy New Year!

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  5. LOL I guess you tried my new password for the year and found out it was already taken by me!!!! Too funny.
    I do not run either. I always tell peeps if you see me running you better get running too because that means something bad is chasing me!!!! I love the banana idea I am going to try that one. Banana's ripen so quickly before I can ever eat them all and then I have to make banana bread and that defeats the purpose of eating healthy!!! I am just trying to not diet but watch the carbs and eat healthier and trying to move more and get away from the computer more. We will see. I love this Life Hacks it is a great idea. I will be tuned in. Have a great rest of the week.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. HA HA HA….that is too funny! I’m the same way…no running here. Bad for my bad knee. We also keep our bananas in the fridge so they will last longer. I’ve also heard that separating them when you bring them home slows the ripening process also. I don’t diet either, I just try to watch what I eat…I watched a lot of things during the holidays and I’m paying for it now. Back to healthier sides for me, which means less Kit Kat Bars and Gingerbread…LOL Thank you so much Kris! Have a great evening!! Love and hugs!!

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  6. You are the cutest thing ever, Benita, and I cannot believe you have a granddaughter!!! Sorry she was sick, hope she's feeling better now! Great tips, and I'm with you on the running. I used to walk miles every single day, for a while I even got up at 5 and walked before work, but I've gotten out of every healthy habit I had and I need to get back on track! I started by going back to black coffee and fruit for breakfast rather than cereal and tea with milk and sugar....it's a start!! I'd like to get rid of 20 lbs....wish me luck!

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    1. Awwww, thank you. Yes, she is 9 going on 20…LOL Thank you so much, she is feeling better. Just in time to go back to school tomorrow. 😊 I got out of my healthy habits also but am picking them back up a little at a time…baby steps. We can encourage each other! I need to get rid of about 15 pounds! Luck to both of us! Love and hugs!

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  7. Great tips! I'm so glad I tried smoking when I was young and foolish but never got hooked. I need to drink more water.
    Brenda

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    1. I tried a cigarette once when I was about 16. Made me sick as a dog. My parents were chain smokers and I hated the way our home smelled and the way my clothes smelled, so I just left it alone. Unfortunately, both of my boys smoke. I passed the water/fennel seed tip along to them. I drink lots of water but want something else. I'm trying to stay away from sodas. Love and hugs!

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  8. Benita I am way ahead of you on the organization thing....well, kind of. You see, I decided to get a brand new beautiful daily planner to keep all birthdays handy, pre written blogs on schedule and all appointments made and kept. However, my planner is so pretty that it has taken me a week to determine the color of ink to use. Well, I actually haven't made the choice as to which color to use for what, because I want the planner to look neat and organized. Also, I am still trying to decide which font I should use...calligraphy, cursive or hand printed in that pretty slant that so many people use. I am still working on that because if I use that, I will have to practice my penmanship more because I want there to be uniformity....and well, you know, pretty and not sloppy. Of course, I have missed one dental appointment and the birthday of a dear friend (had to call her as if that was planned) because I didn't have them in my planner yet. But I am working on it. Hmmmm...should I use the color red ink for birthdays and use calligraphy or should all font be the same and just different colors??? And today is the 3rd of January, I really need to get this thing going. Help!! LOL!!! I'm not running either, those days are gone...but I will eat bananas in or out of the fridge. Hugs my friend.

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    1. Kari, you sound like me! I love staying organized and when I get something pretty like that, I don't want to mess it up. So I start coordinating all of my ink colors, stickers, etc. I so wish that I could do calligraphy writing! I've tried practicing with the sets they have and I just can't get the hang of it! I usually just cave in and write in my normal hand-writing because before it is all said and done, I will have made a mistake and have to scratch through it. My planner usually looks like a chicken yard before the end of the year! Love and hugs!

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  9. Omg! The password thing is genius! And I love Amalia's comment about her passwords shaming her. Ha! That would be me for sure. I'd be logging into Amazon to buy some decadent chocolate and my password would be there to stop me!! Keep those hacks coming!

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    1. When I first read it, I thought it was great also…but would also feel the “shame” about not keeping up…LOL LOL…me too girl, me too! Thanks so much! Hope you all enjoy them. Like I said, many of them we know, but they are just good reminders! Love and hugs!

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  10. I am going to like the hack posts.. fun and helpful.
    I also DO NOT RUN. ;-)

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    1. Thank you so much Carla! My sister is a nurse anesthetist who works with quite a few orthopedists. She said they love runners and cross-trainers...keeps them booming with business! Another good reason not to run...sometimes walking is a challenge...I'm not going to tempt fate...LOL Love and hugs!

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  11. Good and interesting to read …
    I enjoy walking but not running!

    My good wishes for 2019.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks so much Jan! I leave the running to 3-year olds...their knees can take it! :-) Happy New Year and good wishes for you for 2019! Love and hugs!

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